Health

Prescription Medicine

Students who need to take prescription medications during school hours must have their parent’s/guardian’s signed request including the private physician’s written instructions and signature on file in the office; the medication must be brought to the school by the parent/guardian or other responsible adult. Please make certain that each medication is in a separate container that is clearly labeled with the following information:

Pupil’s full name
Dosage, schedule and dose form
Physician’s name
Physician’s telephone number
Name of Medication
Date of expiration of prescription

Stay Healthy

Take these everyday actions to stay healthy:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Stay home if you get sick.

The CDC recommends that persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old receive the H1N1 vaccine.

This section covers some of the health-related school policies and procedures at Dahlia Heights.

Absences & Illnesses

If your child is sick, please keep him/her at home and telephone the sc

If your child is sick, please keep him/her at home and telephone the school BEFORE 8:00 AM with the reason for the absence.

Attendance is now being taken in the classroom by the teacher on the computer.

Any child who is not in class by 8:06 AM will be marked absent.
Parents will receive two automated calls that their child was absent if a reason for the absence was not given.
Reasons should be called into the office or written on a note for the teacher the same day that the absence occurred. The office number is 323-255-1419.

When your child returns to school:

Send a note to the teacher explaining the absence.
Children absent for 5 days or more must return to school with a note from the Doctor.

Students returning to school following serious or prolonged illnesses, injuries, surgeries, or other hospitalization must present a written statement from their Doctor indicating permission to return and any recommendations regarding physical activity.

If your child becomes sick or injured during the school day, he or she will be sent to the office and a parent will be called to pick up the sick child. It is extremely important that you keep your Emergency Card up to date as this information will be used to contact you.

School personnel are not allowed to administer any prescription or non-prescription medication. Students will be allowed to take their medication only if the school medical form has been signed by the physician and the parent/guardian, and if detailed directions are given.

A school nurse is assigned to Dahlia once a week. Arrangements can be made for a consultation through the office.

Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

Sleep is important for academic and social functioning, and to ensure that your child is feeling his or her best.

Experts recommend 10-11 hours of sleep for elementary school children according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Make sufficient sleep a family priority. Understanding the importance of getting enough sleep and how sleep affects the overall health of parents and children is the first step towards making sleep a family priority.

Embrace good sleep habits. Regular bedtime routines, creating a quiet and comfortable bedroom, and adhering to appropriate bedtime and wake times can go a long way to better sleep. Televisions and computers need to be out of the bedroom and caffeine should not be part of a child's diet.

Learn to recognize sleep problems. The most common sleep problems include difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, snoring, resisting going to bed, having trouble breathing, and loud or heavy breathing while sleeping. These sleep problems can be evident in daytime behavior such as being overtired, sleepy or cranky.

Talk to your child's doctor about sleep. Parents should discuss their child's sleep habits and problems with their child's doctor, as most sleep problems are easily treated.

Casts, Crutches & Braces

Students with casts, crutches or braces must have their physician’s written permission to attend school and must comply with any safety regulations outlined by the school administration. Children wearing casts, braces, splints ,etc., may be readmitted to school only with the two following clearances:

A note from the family physician indicating extent of injury and restriction of physical activities
Approval of the principal

Students returning to school following serious or prolonged illnesses, injuries, surgeries, or other hospitalization must present a written statement from their doctor indicating permission to return and any recommendations regarding physical activity or limitations.

Lice

Lice appear on the heads of school-aged children from every walk of life. Head lice outbreaks occur at every school from time to time and are always handled with sensitivity and safety in mind. If it’s determined that your child has head lice, we will send him/her home at the end of the school day. Children with lice infestation may return to school after appropriate treatment. Removal of nits (eggs) helps the nurse determine whether or not infestation has been properly treated. We are sensitive to the fact that this can be a very frustrating ordeal.

For tips on identifying and removing lice and nits, read the California Department of Public Health.

Nutrition

Research shows that children who eat breakfast are better behaved, less hyperactive, and earn higher standardized test scores than kids who skip breakfast. Other studies have shown that 9- to 12-year-old children who eat sugary breakfasts tend to eat more at lunch than kids whose breakfasts are well-balanced, including whole fruit and a source of protein like eggs or nut butters.

Both Breakfast and Lunch are available at Dahlia Heights. Learn more about the LAUSD approach to nutrition.